3 Aqua_ray can be excellently manoeuvred and can be operated either as a hydrostatic glider or with actively flapping wings. This makes for considerable energy savings. Thanks to its form and its mode of propulsion, Aqua_ray is suitable for application in diverse fields of marine research without disturbance to the natural environment. Aqua_ray’s closed contour and lack of rotating parts such as propellers allow it to be used even in sensitive areas; it is particularly suited to the inspection of pipelines, cables or the sea floor itself. Despite its small frontal area for low flow resistance, its body shape yields a large horizontal surface; Aqua_ray thus makes an idealbioniccarrier module forsonarsystems and othertestprobes. The bionic Aqua_ray with Fin Ray Effect® combines research projects with the products and “patents” of nature into an elegant underwater flying machine characterised by striking manoeuvrability and natural gracefulness. With Aqua_ray, Festo is demonstrating the opportunities that lie in mimicking biological principles. Smoothly flowing muscular movements are transformed into the dynamic flapping of a wing, which propels the artificial manta ray though the water.
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